Prevalence and predictors of tobacco use in older adults: a case in Turkey

ABSTRACT

Objectives

In this study the aim was to examine the factors associated with the tobacco use status of individuals aged 60 and older.

Methods

In this study, the microdata set obtained from the Turkey Health Survey conducted by TURKSTAT in 2016 and 2019 was used. The binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with tobacco use status at old age.

Results

According to the findings, 15.62% of older adults use tobacco. According to the results of the analysis, gender, age, educational status, marital status, employment status, body mass index, visiting a psychotherapist and psychiatrist, exposure to tobacco smoke and alcohol use influence tobacco use among older adults.

Conclusion

At the end of this study, it was concluded that older males are in the high-risk group for tobacco use. For this reason, it is suggested that male specific tobacco prevention policies be implemented. The results indicated that being an older single was a risk factor for tobacco use. Therefore, efforts to increase social support for older adults living alone and social activities for older adults should be supported, and this issue should be highlighted in government action plans.

KEYWORDS:

• Geriatrics
• older adults
• tobacco use
• binary logistic regression
• Turkey

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Turkish Statistical Institute for the data. The views and opinions expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent the views, official policy, or position of the Turkish Statistical Institute.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.